Documentary FIRE MUSIC launches KICKSTARTER Campaign to shine a light on the Free Jazz revolution, described as the most radical musical movement of all time.
FIRE MUSIC is a feature length documentary currently in production, which tells the definitive history of the Free Jazz revolution. Directed by Tom Surgal, produced by Dan Braun, and executive produced by Thurston Moore and Nels Cline, the film seeks to tell the story of an irrepressible art form that has inspired generations of fans the world over.
FIRE MUSIC will launch a KICKSTARTER Campaign today to complete the documentary and bring the project to film festivals and theaters for fans across the globe to enjoy.
Commenting on the project, Executive Producer Thurston Moore stated: “Free Jazz is liberation, is the excitement of the new and now….. It is with respect, passion and knowledge that Tom Surgal captures the significance of this self proclaimed “Fire Music.” His work, like its subject, shines for the collective call of beauty and unity.”
FIRE MUSIC seeks to preserve this vital history and the music of a criminally ignored art form that has gone cinematically undocumented for far too long.
Free Jazz is one of the original outsider art forms that broke all the rules. Spearheaded by legendary mavericks like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor, it is the cultural precursor to all the other musical protest scenes that followed, such as Punk, Hardcore and Hip Hop. It gave voice to a disenfranchised generation galvanized by the burgeoning civil rights and anti-war movements.
In the late 1950s, when the Abstract Expressionists took the art world by storm and The Beats forever changed the face of literature, a new radical form of Jazz erupted from New York’s Lower East Side. This new music was a far cry from the toe-tapping, post Bebop sound of the Jazz mainstream popular in the day. This was an angry form of Jazz that mirrored the more turbulent times in which it was being played.
The coming together of these like-minded artists, iconic figures such as Albert Ayler, Sun Ra, Eric Dolphy and Pharoah Sanders, was a historic occasion. Like the Dadaists, the Lost Generation and the Italian Neo-Realists before them, the early progenitors of the Free Jazz scene were initially met with skepticism and outright disdain. They were accused of being anti-Jazz and the music they played was dismissed as being pure noise. Undeterred by their critics, they would soldier on in relative obscurity and in the process create one of the most influential bodies of work of the contemporary age.
Interviews, archival footage, and live performances combine to depict the sights and sounds of some of the most influential artists of the period including:
Sam Rivers, Wadada Leo Smith, Oliver Lake, John Tchicai, Roswell Rudd, Noah Howard, Dave Burrell, Marshall Allen, Prince Lasha, Sonny Simmons, Bobby Bradford, Sirone, Rashied Ali, Gato Barbieri, Evan Parker, Gunter Hampel, Han Bennink, Peter Brotzmann, Barry Guy, Paul Lytton, Keith Rowe, Gunter Baby Sommer, Trevor Watts,Tristan Honsinger, Joseph Jarman, and renowned Jazz historian and six time Grammy winner Gary Giddins.
Live, never before seen concert footage includes performances by: Peter Brotzman, Han Bennink, Gunter Baby Sommer, Urlich Gumpert, Dave Burrell, Paul Lytton, Ken Vandemark, Evan Parker, Gunter Hampel and Marshell Allen.
FIRE MUSIC is led by writer/ director Tom Surgal who is known for directing a series of groundbreaking music videos for leading alternative bands like Sonic Youth, Pavement and the Blues Explosion. Tom was a teenage protégé of Brian DePalma and has worked in a wide range of film production jobs, including production design, casting and writing. Tom is also a working musician who performs regularly with Nels Cline (Wilco), Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Jim O’Rourke and Mike Watt (Minutemen, The Stooges) and is co-leader of the improvisational ensemble White Out. He is also a curator who has programmed a number of celebrated music series at various downtown New York venues, including an entire month of shows at John Zorn’s hallowed performance space The Stone.
Tom is also recognized as a leading authority on Avant-garde Jazz and boasts one the world’s largest collections of Free Jazz recordings.
Dan Braun, co-president of one of the top documentary production and sales companies, Submarine Entertainment, produces the project. Dan recently produced Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival and executive produced the award-winning documentary “Kill Your Idols” and the No Wave documentary “Blank City. Dan is also an Executive Producer on the recently released base-jumping documentary “Sunshine Superman.”
Dan’s company, Submarine Entertainment has represented and sold the Oscar winning documentaries “Searching for Sugar Man,” “20 Ft from Stardom,” “Man on Wire” and “The Cove.” Other films in the companies portfolio include “NAS Time is Illmatic,” “Muscle Shoals,” “Tales of the Grim Sleeper,” “Citizenfour,” “Keep on Keepin On,” “The Great Invisible,” “Blackfish,” “Cutie and the Boxer,” “Winter’s Bone,” “Bill Cunningham NY,” “Tiny Furniture,” “Queen of Versailles,” “Chasing Ice,” “Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me,” “Super Size Me” and many more.
Executive producers are musicians Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Nels Cline (Wilco). ranked respectively #99 and # 82 on Rolling Stone’ s rating of “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.Documentary
-
Free Jazz documentary FIRE MUSIC launches Kickstarter Campaign
Documentary FIRE MUSIC launches KICKSTARTER Campaign to shine a light on the Free Jazz revolution, described as the most radical musical movement of all time.
FIRE MUSIC is a feature length documentary currently in production, which tells the definitive history of the Free Jazz revolution. Directed by Tom Surgal, produced by Dan Braun, and executive produced by Thurston Moore and Nels Cline, the film seeks to tell the story of an irrepressible art form that has inspired generations of fans the world over.
FIRE MUSIC will launch a KICKSTARTER Campaign today to complete the documentary and bring the project to film festivals and theaters for fans across the globe to enjoy.
Commenting on the project, Executive Producer Thurston Moore stated: “Free Jazz is liberation, is the excitement of the new and now….. It is with respect, passion and knowledge that Tom Surgal captures the significance of this self proclaimed “Fire Music.” His work, like its subject, shines for the collective call of beauty and unity.”
FIRE MUSIC seeks to preserve this vital history and the music of a criminally ignored art form that has gone cinematically undocumented for far too long.
Free Jazz is one of the original outsider art forms that broke all the rules. Spearheaded by legendary mavericks like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor, it is the cultural precursor to all the other musical protest scenes that followed, such as Punk, Hardcore and Hip Hop. It gave voice to a disenfranchised generation galvanized by the burgeoning civil rights and anti-war movements.
In the late 1950s, when the Abstract Expressionists took the art world by storm and The Beats forever changed the face of literature, a new radical form of Jazz erupted from New York’s Lower East Side. This new music was a far cry from the toe-tapping, post Bebop sound of the Jazz mainstream popular in the day. This was an angry form of Jazz that mirrored the more turbulent times in which it was being played.
The coming together of these like-minded artists, iconic figures such as Albert Ayler, Sun Ra, Eric Dolphy and Pharoah Sanders, was a historic occasion. Like the Dadaists, the Lost Generation and the Italian Neo-Realists before them, the early progenitors of the Free Jazz scene were initially met with skepticism and outright disdain. They were accused of being anti-Jazz and the music they played was dismissed as being pure noise. Undeterred by their critics, they would soldier on in relative obscurity and in the process create one of the most influential bodies of work of the contemporary age.
Interviews, archival footage, and live performances combine to depict the sights and sounds of some of the most influential artists of the period including:
Sam Rivers, Wadada Leo Smith, Oliver Lake, John Tchicai, Roswell Rudd, Noah Howard, Dave Burrell, Marshall Allen, Prince Lasha, Sonny Simmons, Bobby Bradford, Sirone, Rashied Ali, Gato Barbieri, Evan Parker, Gunter Hampel, Han Bennink, Peter Brotzmann, Barry Guy, Paul Lytton, Keith Rowe, Gunter Baby Sommer, Trevor Watts,Tristan Honsinger, Joseph Jarman, and renowned Jazz historian and six time Grammy winner Gary Giddins.
Live, never before seen concert footage includes performances by: Peter Brotzman, Han Bennink, Gunter Baby Sommer, Urlich Gumpert, Dave Burrell, Paul Lytton, Ken Vandemark, Evan Parker, Gunter Hampel and Marshell Allen.
FIRE MUSIC is led by writer/ director Tom Surgal who is known for directing a series of groundbreaking music videos for leading alternative bands like Sonic Youth, Pavement and the Blues Explosion. Tom was a teenage protégé of Brian DePalma and has worked in a wide range of film production jobs, including production design, casting and writing. Tom is also a working musician who performs regularly with Nels Cline (Wilco), Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Jim O’Rourke and Mike Watt (Minutemen, The Stooges) and is co-leader of the improvisational ensemble White Out. He is also a curator who has programmed a number of celebrated music series at various downtown New York venues, including an entire month of shows at John Zorn’s hallowed performance space The Stone.
Tom is also recognized as a leading authority on Avant-garde Jazz and boasts one the world’s largest collections of Free Jazz recordings.
Dan Braun, co-president of one of the top documentary production and sales companies, Submarine Entertainment, produces the project. Dan recently produced Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival and executive produced the award-winning documentary “Kill Your Idols” and the No Wave documentary “Blank City. Dan is also an Executive Producer on the recently released base-jumping documentary “Sunshine Superman.”
Dan’s company, Submarine Entertainment has represented and sold the Oscar winning documentaries “Searching for Sugar Man,” “20 Ft from Stardom,” “Man on Wire” and “The Cove.” Other films in the companies portfolio include “NAS Time is Illmatic,” “Muscle Shoals,” “Tales of the Grim Sleeper,” “Citizenfour,” “Keep on Keepin On,” “The Great Invisible,” “Blackfish,” “Cutie and the Boxer,” “Winter’s Bone,” “Bill Cunningham NY,” “Tiny Furniture,” “Queen of Versailles,” “Chasing Ice,” “Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me,” “Super Size Me” and many more.
Executive producers are musicians Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Nels Cline (Wilco). ranked respectively #99 and # 82 on Rolling Stone’ s rating of “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.
-
Dance Documentary PAUL TAYLOR: CREATIVE DOMAIN to Open on September 11
Paul Taylor is described as one of the dance world’s most elusive and admired choreographers. For 60 years he has given only glimpses into his creative process, but for his 133rd dance, ‘Three Dubious Memories,’ the audience is allowed into his studio. PAUL TAYLOR: CREATIVE DOMAIN is an in-depth exploration of how Mr. Taylor creates a single work.
PAUL TAYLOR: CREATIVE DOMAIN directed by Kate Geis will open at Film Society Of Lincoln Center in New York on Friday, September 11 with a national release to follow in Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago and other major cities.
The film begins with Mr. Taylor dancing in his youth, describing the nature of dance, ‘you learn to live day to day, hour to hour.’ We leap to Mr.Taylor present day, now in his 80’s, still living his life in the moment, with his mind intently focused on his next dance. His new work is aRashomon-inspired exploration of memory, three characters entangled in a relationship, and each believing only in their own dark memory of it.
Through the lens of award-winning cinematographer Tom Hurwitz, we witness Mr. Taylor’s verbal and non-verbal communication with his dancers. Below the surface of this dance and the many works that came before, is his power of acute observation, revealing a side to his choreography that is strangely prophetic. The dominant voice is Paul Taylor’s and between the guarded and unguarded moments we see him with new eyes and new understanding.
https://vimeo.com/37539696
-
Tribeca + DICK’S Sporting Goods to Produce Documentary on Kerri Walsh Jennings, Olympic Gold Medalist
Tribeca Digital Studios and DICK’S Sporting Goods Films announced today that they are producing a documentary following Kerri Walsh Jennings, three-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball, in her quest to win a fourth consecutive gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Three-time Emmy Award®-winning director and producer Gabe Spitzer will offer rare, intimate access to Jennings as she balances life as a mother of three while training with new partner April Ross in their quest for the gold. Production begins this month. Earlier this year, Tribeca Digital Studios and The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation won the Outstanding Sports Documentary Emmy® for We Could Be King.
“When we first partnered with DICK’S Sporting Goods last year, we set out to tell inspiring stories through the lens of experienced filmmakers and redefine the relationship between corporate brands and content creation,” said Paula Weinstein, Executive Vice President, Tribeca Enterprises. “It has proven to be a winning combination. We are looking forward to starting production on this new project and shining a light on an incredible athlete as she works towards making Olympic history.”
“We aim to tell emotional and powerful stories that bring to life our core brand belief that sports make people better,” said Lauren Hobart, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, DICK’S Sporting Goods. “Nobody embodies this belief more than Kerri Walsh Jennings. We are excited to partner with Tribeca Digital Studios to document Kerri’s journey and show how her passion for her sport, her country and her family fuel her intense determination to become just the fifth American in Olympic history to win four gold medals in a single event.”
“I am thrilled to partner with DICK’S and Tribeca as they follow me in my quest to bring home a fourth gold medal,” said three-time Olympic Gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings. “Representing my country as an Olympic athlete is an honor I take seriously – but I am the most proud of being a mother, wife and role model to young athletes. I hope my story inspires viewers and provides them a glimpse of how sports have shaped my life.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W4iJPExkxY
-
WATCH 3 Short Docs From Academy Nominated Directors on Awesome Small Businesses
Tribeca® Digital Studios in partnership with American Express have co-produced a series of three short films that celebrate small businesses and the creators at the forefront of the entrepreneurial renaissance. Academy Award®-nominated filmmakers Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me), Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp), and Gini Reticker (Pray the Devil Back to Hell) have brought stories to life that explore the nature, shifts, and struggles of young business development; the pioneers, inventors, and dreamers at the helm of these ambitions; and the impact these ventures have on their communities.
The films debuted July 15 on a host of cable on-demand platforms in over 40 million homes including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, Cablevision, Cox and Brighthouse, Vimeo, interactive smart TV app American Express NOW, the American Express YouTube Channel, and American Express OPEN Forum, an online community for small businesses to inspire and help them grow.
The three films in the series are as follows:
Buffalo Returns, directed by Gini Reticker: In the face of a powerful recession, crippling unemployment and a housing crisis, a small, creative and energetic band of Native American businesspeople, with the help of the buffalo, rebuild their community through a growing business, Native American Natural Foods, the company behind Tanka energy bars. Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Gini Reticker weaves together beautiful imagery set to the pulse of the Sioux Nation to carefully tell the story of two entrepreneurs who use tradition and ingenuity to bring opportunity and hope to the people on the Pine Ridge Reservation. After nearly going extinct, the buffalo has returned, bringing a chance for prosperity to the Lakota people.
https://vimeo.com/127614041
A Dream Preferred, directed by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing: The future of Taharka Brothers, purveyors of ice cream and social change, hinges on the success of a crowdfunding campaign. If successful, they will be able to grow their business by launching a “Food for Thought” ice cream truck, a literal vehicle for change. With a looming deadline, and what seems like an insurmountable goal:$28,000 in 29 days, Taharka Brothers takes to the streets to raise awareness, inspire, and turn out some supremely delicious ice cream – voted Best in Baltimore. Progress is slow and defeat starts to set in, until a pivotal phone call. Filmmakers Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing take us behind the scenes in a fun, yet poignant portrayal of young men from Baltimore’s toughest neighborhoods as they struggle with entrepreneurship, sharpen their business strategy and inspire their community. Baltimore has a positive and empowering story to tell. The Taharka Brothers’ ingenuity and character are an inspiration to all. When you fight for what you believe in, dreams happen.
https://vimeo.com/127608534
The Downtown Project, directed by Morgan Spurlock: Far from the bright lights and the resounding ka-ching of booming commerce on the Vegas strip is another side of Sin City; Downtown Vegas prides itself on hard work and the development of local businesses to inspire a growing entrepreneurial spirit within the community. A local initiative known as The Downtown Project champions small businesses by partnering with owners to make dreams happen and to bring a community out of the shadows.
https://vimeo.com/127608535
Unique businesses like EAT, an award winning restaurant owned by Chef Natalie Young, The Hydrant Park, a desert oasis for locals and their pets, Stitch Factory, a fashion and creative co-working studio, and Turntable Health, a physician’s group with a specialized focus on the medical needs of their neighbors, are some of Downtown Projects’ most notable successes that are helping to revitalize the Las Vegas community. The entrepreneurial momentum in downtown Las Vegas has many exciting people flocking to this once depressed area to follow their dreams and to be a part of something life-changing. Renowned filmmaker Morgan Spurlock follows this tantalizing journey through the unique characters finding prosperity in the most unlikely places. Their passion is infectious and, thanks to The Downtown Project, life is thriving again in downtown Vegas for the first time since the 1950’s.
-
Skateboarding Film WE ARE BLOOD to Premiere in August 2015 | TRAILER
The skateboarding film WE ARE BLOOD will World Premiere on August 13, 2015 in Los Angeles in conjunction with the start of the Dew Tour L.A. stop.
Directed by Ty Evans, the feature length film stars professional street skateboarder and DEW® athlete Paul Rodriguez as he and other top skateboarders travel the world, pushing the limits of what’s possible on a skateboard and celebrating the unconditional bond created by the simple act of skateboarding. With staggering cinematography, state-of-the-art cameras and unique perspectives that lend to a cutting-edge, progressive skateboarding experience, WE ARE BLOOD takes viewers through Spain, Brazil, China and Dubai, thanks to the support of film sponsor XDubai, as well as on a classic road trip across the United States.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVus4Ua1EFQ
The world premiere of WE ARE BLOOD will be held at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, on Saturday, August 15.
Following the Los Angeles premiere, WE ARE BLOOD will launch a screening tour across the United States and globally at select locations including:
Thursday, August 20 – New York, N.Y.
Monday, August 24 – Boston, Mass.
Tuesday, August 25 – Denver, Colo.
Wednesday, August 26 – Chicago, Ill.
Friday, August 28 – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Saturday, August 29 – Munich, Germany
Sunday, August 30 – Vienna, Austria
Tuesday, September 1 – Portland, Ore.
Wednesday, September 2 – San Francisco, Cali.
Thursday, September 3 – San Diego, Cali.
Friday, September 4 – Houston, Texas
Saturday, September 5 – Dallas, Texas
Thursday, September 10 – Sao Paulo, Brazil
The film will release worldwide in mid-August in Ultra HD 4K and HD on digital and other VOD and streaming platforms such as iTunes, Amazon Instant Play and MGO as well as on DVD and Blu-ray in Zumiez and other core skate shops.
-
Award-Winning Documentary TASHI AND THE MONK Premieres on HBO on August 17th | TRAILER
The award-winning documentary TASHI AND THE MONK, directed by Andrew Hinton and Johnny Burke, and winner of the International Documentary Association’s 2014 Best Short Award, will premiere on HBO on August 17th. TASHI AND THE MONK provides a heartfelt and uplifting look into a unique children’s community in the Himalayan Mountains.
Trained under the Dalai Lama to share Tibetan Buddhism with the West, monk Lobsang Phuntsok felt compelled to leave his life in the United States to return to his home village in India to rescue children from suffering.
Since then he has created a unique community called Jhamtse Gatsal which provides a permanent home for 85 orphaned or abandoned children.
5 year-old Tashi is the community’s newest arrival. Her mother recently passed away and she’s been abandoned by her alcoholic father. Wild and troubled, Tashi is struggling to find her place amongst 84 new siblings. Can the community’s love and compassion transform Tashi’s alienation and tantrums into a capacity to make her first real friend?
https://vimeo.com/95827076
-
SNEAKERHEADZ Documentary to Hit Theaters on Friday, August 7 | TRAILER
The documentary SNEAKERHEADZ, directed by David T. Friendly (Academy Award nominated producer of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) and Mick Partridge (SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA, DECODING ANNIE PARKER, MERCY),which examines the cultural influence of sneaker collecting, will open in theaters on August 7 – opening at Village East Cinemas in NYC on Friday, August 7 with a national release to follow.
To Rock or Stock? Sneakerheads will do almost anything to get their hands on a unique pair of kicks, going to such extreme lengths as hiding in trash cans to score a pair of Retro Jordan 11s to camping for days in sub zero temperatures for the latest Nike Foamposites. How did sneakers become as prized as collectable art? From the shores of Cali to the congested streets of Tokyo, SNEAKERHEADZ examines the cultural influence of sneaker collecting around the world and delves into a subculture whose proud members don’t just want to admire art, they want to wear it.
https://vimeo.com/130269223
-
A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY Sets Release Date of September 25 | TRAILER
The documentary A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY which premiered at this year’s SXSW Film Festival where it won the Audience Award, will be released on Friday, September 25th via Cinedigm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFG-bfgSHuY
A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY follows the inspiring journey of 26-year-old, 63-pound Lizzie from cyberbullying victim to anti-bullying activist. Born with a rare syndrome that prevents her from gaining weight, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Velasquez was first bullied as a child in school for looking different. As a teenager, she was bullied even more prominently online when she discovered a YouTube video labeling her “The World’s Ugliest Woman.” The film chronicles unheard stories and details of Lizzie’s physical and emotional journey up to her multi-million viewed TEDxAustinWomen talk and follows her evolution as motivational speaker and activist as she lobbies Congress for the first federal anti-bullying bill; the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA). The film features private moments with Lizzie’s family including her parents, Rita and Lupe, and siblings Chris and Marina Velasquez. Also appearing in the doc are Anti-bullying advocate and Founder of the Megan Meier Foundation, Tina Meier, anti-bullying expert Dr. Bob Faris and Congresswomen Linda Sanchez, author of SSIA. “This movie shines a light on my personal journey, but we have always felt that this truly is EVERYONE’S story. We’ve heard from so many people from all over the world who have been bullied in their own ways and we want to offer hope and show what’s possible when you get on other side of bullying,” said Lizzie Velasquez. “I’ve been so touched by everyone who has shared their stories with us and we wanted to make sure that anyone who wanted to see the movie could do so. My hope is that we can then all come together to inspire change, take the high road and create a more positive environment,” said director / producer Sara Hirsh Bordo. Bordo produced the inaugural TEDxAustinWomen event, under her Women Rising banner, where Velasquez’s “How Do You Define Yourself?” talk was given. TEDxAusitnWomen ultimately became the #1 TEDWomen event of 2013 and Velasquez’s talk has been viewed over 10 million times combined with both English and Spanish versions. Bordo and Women Rising then went on to produce “A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY,” which Bordo also directed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0L00A4rD60
-
Magnolia Pictures to Release DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON | TRAILER
Douglas Tirola’s Sundance and Tribeca hit DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON, has been acquired by Magnolia Pictures for release in the US. DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON is an inside look at the rise and fall of the legendary humor magazine that launched dozens of careers and broke as many taboos.
From the 1970s thru the 1990s, there was no hipper, more outrageous comedy in print than The National Lampoon, the groundbreaking humor magazine that pushed the limits of taste and acceptability. Parodying everything from politics, religion, entertainment and the whole of American lifestyle, the Lampoon eventually went on to branch into successful radio shows, record albums, live stage revues and movies, including Animal House and National Lampoon’s Vacation. The publication launched the careers of many who would become mainstays in American humor, in TV, film and elsewhere.
“We’re so proud of the film Doug made – it immerses you in a world that is so rich with creative genius it is stunning but the dramatic story of the magazine’s founders is deeply emotional too,” said Molly Thompson, Senior Vice President, Feature Films, A+E Studios.
Eamonn Bowles, President of Magnolia Pictures, said “With DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD, Doug Tirola establishes himself as one of our most thoughtful and entertaining documentarians, giving us a fresh, inventive look at an outrageous American institution.”
Douglas Tirola said, “It’s an honor to be distributed by Magnolia Pictures which has released some of the great documentaries of the past decade. They have a smart vision for our film with an understanding of how we used the documentary form to tell a broad narrative story. They also bring a sense of humor to the process which is a perfect fit for a movie called, DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azwS8VMVwf4
-
First Four Documentary Films Selected for 2015 Tallgrass Film Festival | TRAILERS
The first four official films are revealed for the 2015 Tallgrass Film Festival whose subjects truly embody the Stubbornly Independent spirit. These acclaimed documentaries recount engaging stories from around the world, and in Wichita. The first three feature humanitarians, adventurists and innovators in the compelling stories of their trials, tribulations and the up-hill battles they face. The fourth is a sweet and surprising gem that speaks volumes to the talent and perseverance of a local filmmaker with an unconventional and unbending will for the craft of moviemaking.
The 13th annual Tallgrass Film Festival takes place in and around downtown Wichita this October 14-18th.
DOUBLE DIGITS: THE STORY OF A NEIGHBORHOOD MOVIE STAR, USA, 2015, Dir. Justin Johnson (pictured above)
In his tiny “studio” apartment in Wichita, Kansas, inspiring 50-year-old filmmaker Richard ‘R.G.’ Miller directs his cast of dolls and action figures in the weirdest “blockbuster”-style feature films you’ve never seen. His dream audience? More than 9 people. Double Digits explores what it means to be a DIY artist in the 21st century, while delving into the life and creative process of a gifted and truly unique talent. (Johnson and Miller scheduled to attend.) This film will screen as part of the Wichita State University Thursday Night Spotlight and will include the World Premiere of Mr. Miller’s newest short film commissioned for the Tallgrass Film Festival.
https://vimeo.com/128304036
ANGEL OF NANJING, USA/China, 2015, Dir. Jordan Horowitz and Frank L. Ferendo
The Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing is one of the most famous bridges in China. It is also the most popular place in the world to commit suicide. For the past 11 years Chen Si has been patrolling this bridge, looking to provide aid for those who have gone there to end their lives. Incredibly, he has saved over 300 people since he began – nearly one every two weeks. Winner, Best Documentary at Phoenix Film Festival (Filmmaker(s) scheduled to attend.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA93svbHgok
UNBRANDED, USA, 2015, Dir. Phillip Baribeau
Four young men take an unprecedented journey on adopted wild mustangs from the Mexican to the Canadian borders through the backccountry of deserts and mountains. Their goal: To prove the worth of the iconic horses that are the subject of often bitter controversy, as well as their own ability to complete the challenge. As they cover the 3000 miles of often unforgiving landscapes, the riders succumb to the contradictory tensions of camaraderie and rivalry. Winner, Audience Award at 2015 HotDocs Film Festival and 2015 Telluride MountainFilm Festival. Director scheduled to attend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQmmaiWHYHQ
THE ARMOR OF LIGHT, USA, 2015, Dir. Abigail E. Disney and Kathleen Hughes
Abigail Disney’s directorial debut, THE ARMOR OF LIGHT, follows the journey of an Evangelical minister trying to find the courage to preach about the growing toll of gun violence in America. The film tracks Reverend Rob Schenck, anti-abortion activist and fixture on the political far right, who breaks with orthodoxy by questioning whether being pro-gun is consistent with being pro-life. A courageous look at our fractured political culture, and an assertion that it is, indeed, possible for people to come together across deep party lines to find common ground.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSP0Soy8ACk
-
Premiere of Documentary GLEN CAMPBELL…I’LL BE ME is Most Watched CNN Film
The documentary GLEN CAMPBELL…I’LL BE ME premiered Sunday night on CNN to stellar ratings, with the network noting that the film was the highest-rated in both adults 25 to 54 and total viewers, and the second highest-rated among adults 18 to 34 (after CNN Films Blackfish).
GLEN CAMPBELL…I’LL BE ME easily won first place in cable news for its time period on Sunday night for all three demos. The broadcast had 2.76M total viewers and 510k viewers aged 25 to 54 for its 9:00pm to 10:45pm premiere. These ratings beat the cable news competition: MSNBC placed third with 463k total viewers and 251k viewers aged 25 to 54, while Fox News straggled in at fourth with 139k viewers aged 25 to 54, and second place with 593k among total viewers.
With 125k viewers aged 18 to 34, CNN also won the evening’s cable news competition in its time period. This figure easily topped MSNBC, which had 48k viewers 18 to 34 years old, and Fox News, with 33k viewers aged 18 to 34.
The encore broadcast at 10:45pm delivered big numbers as well, CNN came in first place among total viewers and viewers 25 to 54, with 1.26M and 268k respectively. Fox News placed second among total viewers with 482k and last for the demo with 89k. MSNBC was last among total viewers with 403k and second among viewers 25 to 54 with 219k.
Glen Campbell’s extraordinary life, musical legacy, and brave battle against Alzheimer’s disease are the focus of the film, which was sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company, and presented back-to-back on CNN/U.S. with limited commercial interruptions. The award-winning film was directed by James Keach and produced by Trevor Albert and James Keach. Sister network, HLN, will encore GLEN CAMPBELL… I’LL BE ME on Friday, July 3, at 8:00pm Eastern. The film will encore on CNN/U.S. on Saturday, July 4 at 9:00pm Eastern.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xFPqYyjmv4
-
Watch Official TRAILER for Documentary I Am Chris Farley
The documentary, I Am Chris Farley, described as the definitive biographical film about the late comedy star, has released the official trailer. Farley died in 1997, at the age of 33, from a drug overdose.
The film, from the directors of I Am Evel Knievel, A Brony Tale, and the upcoming Johnny Cash – American Rebel, tells Chris Farley’s story from his early days in Madison, Wisconsin and at Marquette University, through his work at the legendary club Second City, to his rapid rise to the top of the comedy world on “Saturday Night Live” and in hit films like Tommy Boy and Black Sheep.
Sharing insights into the beloved funnyman are such co-stars and colleagues as Christina Applegate, Tom Arnold, Dan Aykroyd, Bo Derek, Pat Finn, Jon Lovitz, Lorne Michaels, Jay Mohr, Mike Myers, Bob Odenkirk, Bob Saget, Adam Sandler, Will Sasso, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Brian Stack and Fred Wolf. The filmmakers also speak to Farley’s four siblings, including his brother Kevin, a comedian and actor, and his brother Tom Jr., who wrote the biography “The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts.”
I Am Chris Farley opens in theaters in select cities on July 31; and will debut on Spike on Monday, August 10 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, followed by Video-On-Demand the next day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aofacg_Gy0E